"Such high rates of food and housing insecurity among hard-working college students indicate that the nation faces a serious crisis," University of Wisconsin researchers who conducted the study wrote in the New York Times Friday. "Much of the conversation in Washington concerning college costs — whether it's about simplifying the financial aid application or refinancing student loans — seems almost trivial in comparison with the problems these students face."

The findings paint a dire picture, as there are more than 10.5 million community college students in the U.S. -- where two-thirds of all jobs will require a higher education by 2020. Most of those who drop out do so for financial reasons, past research has shown.

Translator

To read this article in one of Houston's most-spoken languages, click on the button below.

"If current trends hold, the United States will face a shortfall of five million college-educated workers that year," the researchers wrote. "This problem won't be solved if we don't ensure that students have their basic needs met so that they can manage their schoolwork and finish their degrees."

Past research has explored hunger at individual college campuses. A 2009 study found 21 percent of students at the University of Hawaii faced insecurity and a 2011 study found that number was even higher -- 39 percent -- at the City University of New York. Meanwhile, data from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid indicates 58,000 college students are homeless, but the University of Wisconsin researchers say that is likely an underestimate, as students have to show evidence they are homeless to be counted as such by the FAFSA.

To determine where students stand, the researchers asked participants six standardized questions from the U.S. Department of Agriculture -- such as, for three or more days, did you ever cut the size of your meals or skip meals because there wasn't enough money for food? They also asked whether students had struggled to pay rent, been kicked out of their home or stayed in a shelter, among other questions, to assess their housing stability.

The biggest challenge facing students was their ability to eat balanced meals, which the study points out can affect brain functions. Nearly 40 percent of students said the food they bought didn't last and they couldn't afford to buy more. Almost 30 percent ate smaller meals or skipped meals -- more than 20 percent did so on at least three times in the last month. More than a quarter of respondents ate less than they felt they should and more than 20 percent said that they had gone hungry because they couldn't afford to eat.

While 13 percent of the students said they had been homeless within the last year, more than 20 percent had difficulty paying rent, and 18 percent weren't able to pay the full amount due. More than 10 percent had moved two or more times during the past year and 14 percent had to move in with other people.

The researchers estimate that community college students have long struggled with these issues, though there hasn't been comprehensive data to prove it. The researchers attempted to survey the students via emailed questionnaires and only about 10 percent responded.

People struggling with homelessness typically are hard to reach for surveys, especially electronically, so the number of students facing these problems could be much higher than reflected in the survey, Sara Goldrick-Rab, a professor of educational policy studies and sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who conducted the study, said.

"What's staggering to me is that I think these numbers may be really low," Goldrick-Rab said. "The idea that these numbers are underestimates really makes me nervous. The schools and frankly the country does not have its head around what it means to address this ... you have to do something much more systematic."